Dynamic power saving operation

Abstract

An access point (AP) in a wireless network that operates in different operating modes to save power, including a dynamic power saving (DPS) mode where the AP operates with a reduced operating parameter set or with an enhanced operating parameter set, the operating parameters include a bandwidth, number of spatial streams (NSS), and modulation coding scheme (MCS).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An access point (AP) in a wireless network, comprising:
 a memory; and   a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to:
 transmit, to one or more stations (STAs), a first frame indicating that the AP supports an operation in a dynamic power saving mode; 
 transmit, to the one or more STAs, a second frame indicating a transition into the dynamic power saving mode; 
 operate in the dynamic power save mode and follow associated procedures; and 
 transmit, to the one or more STAs, a third frame indicating a transition out of the dynamic power saving mode. 
   
     
     
         2 . The AP of  claim 1 , wherein the first frame includes at least one of: i) a maximum time that the AP requires to switch from a reduced operating parameter set to an enhanced operating parameter set associated with dynamic power saving mode, ii) a maximum time that the AP requires to switch from the enhanced operating parameter set to the reduced operating parameter set associated with dynamic power saving mode, or iii) an indication of whether the AP requires medium protection while the AP transitions from the enhanced operating parameter set to the reduced operating parameter set associated with dynamic power saving mode. 
     
     
         3 . The AP of  claim 1 , wherein the second frame includes at least one of:
 an indication of the AP transition into the dynamic power saving mode;   an indication of a start time for the transition to the dynamic power saving mode;   an indication of a reduced operating parameter set associated with the dynamic power saving mode;   an indication of one or more enhanced operating parameter sets associated with the dynamic power saving mode;   an indication of a maximum time that the AP requires to switch from the reduced operating parameter set to the one or more enhanced operating parameter sets associated with dynamic power saving mode;   an indication of a maximum time that the AP requires to switch from the one or more enhanced operating parameter sets to the reduced operating parameter set associated with dynamic power saving mode; or an indication of whether the AP requires medium protection while the AP transitions from the one or more enhanced operating parameter sets to the reduced operating parameter set associated with dynamic power saving mode.   
     
     
         4 . The AP of  claim 1 , wherein the AP operates with a reduced operating parameter set in the dynamic power saving mode by default, where the reduced operating parameter set includes a reduction of at least one of a maximum supported channel width, a supported set of modulation and coding schemes, a maximum supported number of spatial streams, or supported physical layer version formats for either transmission or reception at the AP. 
     
     
         5 . The AP of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive, from at least one STA in the one or more STAs, a fourth frame that requests a transition to an enhanced operating parameter set; and   transition to the enhanced operating parameter set, wherein the enhanced operating parameter set includes at least one of an enhanced maximum supported channel width, channel numbers corresponding to the enhanced maximum channel width, enhanced set of modulation and coding schemes, an increased maximum supported number of spatial streams, or an increased set of supported physical layer version formats.   
     
     
         6 . The AP of  claim 5 , wherein the processor is further configured to operate with the enhanced operating parameter set associated with the dynamic power save mode for a duration of a transmission opportunity (TXOP) corresponding to the fourth frame, and switch back to a reduced operating parameter set associated with the dynamic power saving mode at a time determined by the end of the TXOP. 
     
     
         7 . The AP of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to periodically transmit a fifth frame indicating dynamic power saving parameters including one or more of:
 an indication of the AP operating in the dynamic power saving mode;   an indication of one or more enhanced operating parameter sets associated with the dynamic power saving mode;   an indication of a reduced operating parameter set associated with the dynamic power saving mode; or   an indication of the AP operating with the one or more enhanced operating parameter sets for a given duration after the indication.   
     
     
         8 . The AP of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to transmit, before operating in the dynamic power saving mode, a sixth frame to the one or more STAs that indicates a change in the AP's transmission and reception capabilities, where the capabilities are determined based on a reduced operating parameter set associated with the dynamic power saving mode. 
     
     
         9 . The AP of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive, from at least one STA in the one or more STAs, a seventh frame that indicates a capability of sending a request frame to the AP to transition to an enhanced operating parameter set associated with the dynamic power saving mode.   
     
     
         10 . The AP of  claim 1 , wherein the third frame includes at least one of:
 an indication that the AP is transitioning out of the dynamic power saving mode; or   an indication of a time when the AP transitions out of the dynamic power saving mode.   
     
     
         11 . A station (STA) in a wireless network, comprising:
 a memory; and   a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to:
 receive, from an access point (AP), a first frame indicating that the AP supports an operation in a dynamic power saving mode; 
 receive, from the AP, a second frame indicating a transition into or out of the dynamic power saving mode; and 
 while the AP is operating in dynamic power save mode, follow associated procedures. 
   
     
     
         12 . The STA of  claim 11 , wherein the first frame includes at least one of: i) a maximum time that the AP requires to switch from a reduced operating parameter set to an enhanced operating parameter set associated with the dynamic power saving mode, ii) a maximum time that the AP requires to switch from the enhanced operating parameter set to the reduced operating parameter set associated with the dynamic power saving mode, or iii) an indication of whether the AP requires medium protection while the AP transitions from the enhanced operating parameter set to the reduced operating parameter set associated with the dynamic power saving mode. 
     
     
         13 . The STA of  claim 11 , wherein the second frame includes at least one of:
 an indication of the AP transition into the dynamic power saving mode;   an indication of a start time for the transition to the dynamic power saving mode;   an indication of a reduced operating parameter set associated with the dynamic power saving mode;   an indication of one or more enhanced operating parameter sets associated with the dynamic power saving mode;   an indication of a maximum time that the AP requires to switch from the reduced operating parameter set to the one or more enhanced operating parameter sets associated with dynamic power saving mode;   an indication of a maximum time that the AP requires to switch from the one or more enhanced operating parameter sets to the reduced operating parameter set associated with dynamic power saving mode; or   an indication of whether the AP requires medium protection while the AP transitions from the one or more enhanced operating parameter sets to the reduced operating parameter set associated with dynamic power saving mode.   
     
     
         14 . The STA of  claim 11 , wherein the AP operates with a reduced operating parameter set in the dynamic power saving mode by default, wherein the reduced operating parameter set includes a reduction of at least one of a maximum supported channel width, a supported modulation coding schemes, a maximum supported number of spatial streams, or supported physical layer version formats for either transmission or reception at the AP. 
     
     
         15 . The STA of  claim 11 , wherein the AP operates with one or more enhanced operating parameter sets, wherein the one or more enhanced operating parameter sets includes at least one of an enhanced maximum channel width, channel numbers corresponding to the enhanced maximum supported channel width, enhanced set of modulation and coding schemes, an increased maximum supported number of spatial streams, or an increased set of supported physical layer version formats. 
     
     
         16 . The STA of  claim 11 , wherein after winning a transmit opportunity, the processor is configured to determine if the AP is operating with either an enhanced operating parameter set or a reduced operating parameter set and based on the determination, either:
 transmit to the AP frames that are compliant with the enhanced operating parameter set of the AP, or   transmit to the AP frames that are compliant with the reduced operating parameter set of the AP, or   transmit to the AP a third frame that requests the AP to transition to an enhanced operating parameter set and transmit subsequent frames that are compliant with the enhanced operating parameter set for the duration of the transmit opportunity.   
     
     
         17 . The STA of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 transmit, to the AP, a fourth frame that indicates a capability of sending a request frame to the AP to transition to an enhanced operating parameter set associated with the dynamic power saving mode.   
     
     
         18 . A computer-implemented method for wireless communication by an access point (AP) in a wireless network, comprising:
 transmitting, to one or more stations (STAs), a first frame indicating that the AP supports an operation in a dynamic power saving mode;   transmitting, to the one or more STAs, a second frame indicating a transition into the dynamic power saving mode;   operating in the dynamic power save mode and follow associated procedures; and   transmitting, to the one or more STAs, a third frame indicating a transition out of the dynamic power saving mode.   
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 18 , wherein the first frame includes at least one of: i) a maximum time that the AP requires to switch from a reduced operating parameter set to an enhanced operating parameter set associated with dynamic power saving mode, ii) a maximum time that the AP requires to switch from the enhanced operating parameter set to the reduced operating parameter set associated with dynamic power saving mode, or iii) an indication of whether the AP requires medium protection while the AP transitions from the enhanced operating parameter set to the reduced operating parameter set associated with dynamic power saving mode. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 18 , wherein the second frame includes at least one of:
 an indication of the AP transition into the dynamic power saving mode;   an indication of a start time for the transition to the dynamic power saving mode;   an indication of a reduced operating parameter set associated with the dynamic power saving mode;   an indication of one or more enhanced operating parameter sets associated with the dynamic power saving mode;   an indication of a maximum time that the AP requires to switch from the reduced operating parameter set to the one or more enhanced operating parameter sets associated with dynamic power saving mode;   an indication of a maximum time that the AP requires to switch from the one or more enhanced operating parameter sets to the reduced operating parameter set associated with dynamic power saving mode; or   an indication of whether the AP requires medium protection while the AP transitions from the one or more enhanced operating parameter sets to the reduced operating parameter set associated with dynamic power saving mode.